Staff Photo by Cindy HepnerParents Wilbert and Karen Bateman stand with a shirt for Saturday's walk and a photo of their late son Josh

COMMERCIAL TWP— Josh Bateman never had a choice. His medical condition left him with few options, none included a full recovery. The 13-month-old succumbed to symptoms of Hurler syndrome in June but his parents are carrying on the fight.

Mucopolysaccharidosis, or Hurler syndrome, is an inherited condition. It occurs in about one of every 100,000 births.

Josh was born without an enzyme that breaks down long chains of sugar molecules. The molecules will build up inside organs and cause damage without the enzymes to break them down.

After parents Karen and Wilbert were told by their family doctor in Vineland that Josh would require special care, they took him to Nemours/ Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware.

“They told us we had two options. He could have a blood transfusion once a week, every week, for the rest of his life or a bone marrow transplant,” said Wilbert.

Karen and Wilbert went with both options. Donor’s blood from Spain for the bone marrow transplant was used after Josh underwent chemotherapy during the end of May.

Doctors told the two that Josh would need to learn as much as he could by the time he was three-years old. Patients usually stop physical and mental development before they reach five-years old and death occurs by age 10.

Josh also had fluid accumulating in his lungs which caused an infection. When a nurse cleared his blocked airway one day the sudden burst of oxygen sent him into shock.“The doctors said it would have been like one of us jumping into a pool of ice water.

He just couldn’t handle it,” said Wilbert.

“A Walk for Josh” was first discussed in April, his parents will now see it through. All proceeds are being donated to the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware and to the Nemours/ Alfred I. duPont Hospital to help fund research.

“We want more people to know about this disease so they won’t find out about it like we did,” said Wilbert.

The walk will be held at Wheaton Village in Millville on Saturday, July 31 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be food, an inflatable bouncer and coupons to the various vendors set up during the day. Different stores in Millville are donating what they can for the event.

There is no entry fee and after registration, participants will receive a bottle of water and a bracelet that grants them free access to Wheaton Village. T-shirts will be given out for participants making a $150 donation or more.

Checks can by made out to Joshua Bateman. Donations and other correspondence should be sent to 14 Meadow St. P.O. box 39. Dorchester, NJ. 08316.

Readers may contact Wilbert and Karen through the Facebook page for the event at: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=104130722965652